A project to enhance a popular area on Bluff Hill Motupōhue has been given a crucial boost thanks to Government funding.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has awarded $981,380 for upgrades to the Bluff Hill Motupōhue Precinct mountain bike and shared paths, as well as toilets and expansion of car parks.

Invercargill City Council Manager Parks and Recreation Caroline Rain said the Bluff Hill Motupōhue Active Recreation precinct project would upgrade mountain bike trails and develop and enhance dual access trails, expand car parking and install a new public toilet.

“We’re excited to be able to make some real progress with this project thanks to this funding.”

The Bluff Hill Motupōhue area has been becoming more popular with walkers and mountain bikers but the facilities in the area have struggled to keep up with the number of visitors it is getting, she said.

“This funding boost provides huge potential to the Bluff community. It means that the area can meet current and future demand as well as enhancing the overall visitor experience in Bluff.”

Bluff Community Board Chair Raymond Fife said the funding had come to the right place at the right time.

“The more we can do here the better for our community, for our visitors and for the region as a whole,” he said.

“It’s a great opportunity and I think people will be really pleased with what we’ll get done.”

This work is part of a project included in the Bluff tourism masterplan, a multi-agency strategy aiming to transform and revitalise Bluff to make it a more attractive place to live,

work, play, visit and invest in.

“There is much to be done to help the area live up to its potential and now we have the funding to really get going,” Rain said.